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Smart cities are an attractive target for criminals and cyber threat actors to exploit vulnerable systems to steal critical infrastructure data and proprietary information, conduct ransomware operations, or launch destructive cyberattacks.&nbsp;Smart cities may create safer, more efficient, more resilient communities through technological innovation and data-driven decision-making; however, this opportunity also introduces potential vulnerabilities that, if exploited, could impact national security, economic security, public health and safety, and critical infrastructure operations.&nbsp;With the increase in organised cybercrime globally, businesses and organisations are prioritising cybersecurity best practices to protect themselves. As a provider, it is essential to be well-informed in order to address any questions that arise from travellers.&nbsp;What is a Smart City?And how is this linked to tourist safety in-destination?&nbsp;It is important to note that there is not a universal definition or determining factor that categorises a city as 'smart' over another. The maturity of technology and infrastructure play a key role in identifying a smart city. For instance, a city with a well-established and long-standing integration of technology into its infrastructure would be considered smarter than a city with a newly implemented scheme that is just beginning.&nbsp;So when thinking about what makes a smart city, this can refer to communities or settled areas that:Integrate information and communication technology (ICT), community-wide data, and intelligent solutions in order to transform its infrastructure or optimise community decisions, in response to community needs.Connect operational technology (OT) - used in smart cities to monitor, control, and adjust any machines and systems that run a city's infrastructure including traffic lights, smart cars, and smart buildings - with digital networks and apps that collect and analyse data, like Internet of Things (IoT) devices, artificial intelligence (AI), 5G and cloud computing.&nbsp;&nbsp;Common Cybersecurity Risks in Smart CitiesWhile many risks are not unique to smart cities due to the widespread integration of technology in our daily lives, it is important to acknowledge the specific cybersecurity risks that may arise when visiting destinations known for their advanced technology. These risks should be carefully considered to ensure a safe and enjoyable travel experience.&nbsp;Learn more about common cyber-attacks and their potential impact on travellers by exploring the information provided here.&nbsp;Data Theft, Interception and SurveillanceSmart cities collect large amounts of sensitive data, such as traffic flow, waste management, and facial recognition. This data can be used for identity theft, ransomware, and device hijacking.&nbsp;Certain countries may actively monitor and/or intercept digital communications made by travellers. This can include emails, messages, or any data which is sent via the internet.&nbsp;Privacy BreachesSmart city public safety systems that use AI-powered surveillance technologies may be susceptible to hacking, leading to privacy breaches.&nbsp;When it comes to the process that travellers can take if they do think their privacy has been breached while abroad, here are a few steps that can be taken: &nbsp;Change passwords/secure devices – depending on the breach, and if it can be mitigated this way.Report any fraudulent activity – when it comes to banking and credit, for example, initiating a ‘fraud alert’ can ensure that your customers’ account is monitored for any future fraudulent activity.Lodge a complaint – with the local data protection agency in-destination. For example, if a traveller is in the European Union (EU), the DPA of the destination they were visting is the main point of contact, even if the company in question processes data in another EU member state.Take legal action against the company or organisation – while it is required that the compromised organisation contacts those involved in a privacy or data breach, individuals can still file an action directly against a company or organisation in court if they have violated data protection rights.&nbsp;Disruption of ServicesSmart cities are constantly striving for greater efficiency, often achieving this through the automation of operations that were once manual. One key example of this is in areas like wastewater management and traffic control systems. However, it is important to note that connecting more components within a system can also lead to potential vulnerabilities, a truth that applies even within the context of smart cities.&nbsp;The integration of multiple separate infrastructure systems into a single network or digital environment increases the potential 'attack surface.' This allows cybercriminals more opportunities to infiltrate the system, exploit weak points, and move across the entire network. As a result, there can be significant disruptions across sectors or operations within the city.&nbsp;This is called a ‘disruption of services’ and when cyberattacks of this type happen, they usually involve critical services like traffic lights, power grids, and water management systems. &nbsp;&nbsp;For example, cybercriminals may be able to access a local government's Internet of Things sensor network, and from there they can move laterally to access the emergency alert systems if these two systems are interconnected.&nbsp;Or, a cybercriminal could use a distributed denial of services (DDoS) to access and overtake the parking meters within a city, if these are an Internet of Things (IoT) device, rendering them unusable, and then use this system to overtake another system within the city.&nbsp;Malware and SpywareIf travellers are connecting to unfamiliar networks, then they may be more susceptible to malware and spyware being installed without their notice. Devices can be remotely accessed via public networks, and can result in malicious software being installed which can monitor activities, access personal data or damage the device’s system. &nbsp;&nbsp;Here are some recommendations you can provide to travellers for when they’re in-destination: &nbsp;Install security software – like anti-virus, anti-malware, and anti-spyware.Use a Virtual Private Network (VPN) – this encrypts user data, helping to protect users while on shared WiFi networks. &nbsp;Use public WiFi safely – avoiding activities which handle sensitive data like checking online banking or making payments. Connecting through a VPN can help!&nbsp;Use secure apps – only downloading apps from trusted sources/providers can mitigate against accidentally installing malicious software.Back up their data – to another device or to a cloud storage platform before departure.Update their software – keeping operating systems, apps and anti-virus software up to date, and avoid downloading software while away.&nbsp;Unsecure NetworksIn light of informing travellers about the dangers of malicious software, it is equally important to address the issue of unsecure networks. With the widespread use of the Internet of Things (IoT) in various cities globally, the number of unsecure networks available for user connection has risen. Therefore, it is imperative for travellers to be cautious of these potential risks.&nbsp;Public Wi-Fi networks, particularly those offered in hotels, cafes and airports, can be considered hotspots for cyber criminals. Data which is sent or transmitted via these networks can be more easily intercepted and can be potentially used to access sensitive information.&nbsp;Should a traveller not have a SIM card that allows for data roaming or pay-as-you-go data for worldwide destinations, then sometimes using public WiFi is the only choice. In these cases, travellers should use these networks sparingly, turning off their devices ‘auto-join’ function, and avoiding using public WiFi to make transactions. &nbsp;&nbsp;Supply Chain AttacksWithin a smart city, instances of software or hardware components being hacked within these interconnected are more common than in a community wherein this infrastructure is not as connected. &nbsp;&nbsp;This is often because of reliance on a third-party vendor to provide and integrate, these hardware and software elements, that connect previously separate systems. &nbsp;&nbsp;This leaves these very same components vulnerable to attack as a result of this supply chain – either intentionally developed by cybercriminals who may have access to this chain, or through poor security practices.&nbsp;This puts individuals who visit or reside in these communities at a higher risk for:- Data and intellectual property theft- System or network failure due to operational technology availability disruption&nbsp;In the event of a system being breached, cybercriminals could potentially disrupt city infrastructure, compromise or steal sensitive data from emergency service communications, surveillance technology, or utility networks responsible for gas, water, grid, or lighting services.&nbsp;Keeping Travellers Safe Before and After TravelBook their Experiences Before DepartureFor travellers who have a clear plan for their activities at the destination, or are willing to take suggestions, pre-departure booking is the perfect option.&nbsp;&nbsp;This not only guarantees a better experience for the customer by arranging all their activities at once, but also maximises your revenue.&nbsp;Booking your clients’ experiences alongside their accommodation also means that they won’t have to make these purchases in-destination, which mitigates the risk of becoming vulnerable to data interception while making payments for experiences online during their stay.&nbsp;With Hotelbeds you can choose from:250,000+ hotels and resorts in must-visit global destinations.Over 23,000 tours, activities and experiences in 170+ countries worldwide.A network of 3,500 tour operators.and more!&nbsp;Post-Departure and ReturnWhen it comes to your clients’ personal devices, here are a few tips that you can offer to travellers for them to put into action upon their return: &nbsp;Encourage travellers to check their devices for interference – running a full malware scan is advisable, as is following any steps to cleaning their devices of any suspicious software.Reset passwords – for all accounts which were accessed during their trip.Report any suspicious activity – especially when it comes to any activity on banking apps or accounts that isn’t recognised! This can be done via a travellers’ unique provider.Remain alert – if any sensitive data is compromised, this can pose a risk to travellers long after their return. Cybercriminals can use any gained information to launch targeted phishing efforts to gather more data, or access financial accounts.&nbsp;Discover more about the most common cyber-attacks here.&nbsp;Many smart cities regularly test for any security vulnerabilities on a regular basis, to help identify and resolve any potential weaknesses. This process includes routine system audits, threat modeling techniques to identify potential risks in simulated environments, and the implementation of intrusion detection and prevention systems to detect suspicious activities. These measures help to proactively address any weaknesses and maintain a secure environment.&nbsp;While cybercrime remains a prevalent threat globally, traveling to destinations with highly interconnected infrastructure can present a diverse range of risks.&nbsp;&nbsp;One effective method to minimise these risks is to avoid transferring personal information, particularly when conducting online payments during travel. This simple precaution can significantly enhance the safety of travellers and their personal information.&nbsp;Do this by booking any of their in-destination experiences prior to their departure with Hotelbeds, and offer travellers peace of mind while simultaneously increasing your revenue opportunities.&nbsp;

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Cybersecurity: Tourist Safety in Smart Cities

Some sectors are more vulnerable to cyberattacks than others, and the hospitality industry is one of them.&nbsp;Due to the vast amount of personal and financial data it handles daily, combined with increasing digitalisation, cybercriminals are seizing new opportunities to attack this industry.&nbsp;This landscape demands that hotels improve their cybersecurity measures not only to protect their guests but also to safeguard their business continuity.&nbsp;This article will explore how cybersecurity is currently affecting the hospitality sector as we look forward to 2025, as well as the opinions of experts in the framework of the Cybersecurity Awareness Month.&nbsp;&nbsp;Cybersecurity Threats to the Hospitality Industry: An Overview &nbsp;Cybersecurity is becoming an increasingly prominent topic—and for obvious reasons. By 2025, global cybercrime costs are expected to reach $10.5 trillion, a remarkable rise compared to $3 trillion in 2015, reports Cybersecurity Ventures. &nbsp;&nbsp;Similarly, 60% of hotel cyberattacks by 2025 will be caused by vulnerabilities in connected devices like point-of-sale (POS) terminals and IoT devices.&nbsp;What does this mean? Hotels will need to continuously strengthen their security measures to protect both their guests and their business, as the associated costs—especially regarding reputation loss and customer trust—could soar.&nbsp;In relation to this, Scott Patterson, CEO of The Knox Corps and an expert on cybersecurity best practices, points out that 'there are organisations that, if attacked today, would not survive tomorrow. A breach could lead to bankruptcy, and customers’ financial and confidential information could be at risk.' &nbsp;This brings us to the next section of this article.&nbsp;&nbsp;Why Is the Hospitality Industry Particularly Vulnerable to Cyberattacks?To begin with, as Christo Butcher, Global Lead for Threat Intelligence at NCC Group and Fox-IT, explains, 'the travel sector is particularly friendly, making its employees vulnerable to social engineering attacks.'&nbsp;The helpfulness of staff can become an entry point for cyberattacks. 'Additionally, cybersecurity levels in the hospitality industry are often lower than in other sectors', Butcher adds.&nbsp;Apart from these factors, there are other reasons why hotels are an attractive target for cybercriminals, including:&nbsp;Sensitive Personal Data: Hotels store large amounts of information, from passport numbers to credit card details, making this data a lucrative target.&nbsp;Multiple Entry Points: Regarding this point, Scott Patterson states that 'the many access points in this sector make it easier to become compromised. Between email communications, phone calls, third parties, partnerships, websites, and even payments, the travel industry makes itself a prime target for cybercrime.'&nbsp;Third-Party Providers: Hotels often rely on third-party service providers, whose security practices can introduce additional risks.&nbsp;Employee Turnover: The high turnover rate in the hospitality sector can create gaps in cybersecurity training. By 2025, it's estimated that 70% of hotel staff will have access to sensitive data without continuous cybersecurity training, according to the World Economic Forum.&nbsp;Interconnected Systems: The integration of property management systems (PMS) with other platforms increases complexity and attack potential.&nbsp;Considering all this, the more knowledge we have about potential attacks, the better prepared the sector will be. This principle is also supported by Paula Felstead, our Chief Tech, Data and M&amp;A Officer at Hotelbeds: 'In an increasingly interconnected world, it's essential to champion awareness and collaboration around cybersecurity, empowering everyone to not just react to threats but to proactively work together.'&nbsp;Examples of Cyberattacks on Hotels and How to Prevent ThemThere is no doubt that the hospitality industry faces many challenges when it comes to cybersecurity. This happens more often than we might think, and it’s important to talk about it to understand what new threats for hotels exist, what tactics cybercriminals are using and, most importantly, what solutions are effective.&nbsp;As Christo Butcher points out, 'While companies may be reluctant to admit they’ve been victims of cyberattacks, sharing their experiences, especially the technical details of the attacks, with trusted authorities like Fox-IT and NCC Group is crucial. Anonymous reporting helps the travel sector build stronger defences by learning from collective experiences, rather than keeping mistakes to themselves.'&nbsp;Looking ahead to 2025, here are some of the biggest challenges in the hospitality industry when it comes to cybersecurity for hotels:&nbsp;1. Social EngineeringSocial engineering exploits the hospitality sector's customer service mindset, manipulating situations to benefit cybercriminals at the expense of targeted businesses.&nbsp;Social engineering exploits human psychology rather than technical vulnerabilities.&nbsp;Email Phishing: Deceptive emails designed to steal credentials.Spear Phishing: Attacks targeting specific individuals.Voice Phishing (Vishing): Fraudulent phone calls to extract confidential information.&nbsp;&nbsp;Prevention:Continuous staff training on identifying threats.Implementing multi-factor authentication (MFA) to protect systems.&nbsp;2. Supply Chain AttacksThe integrations between hotel systems and external suppliers are frequently targeted in cyberattacks. A weak point in an API can compromise the entire network.&nbsp;Prevention:Active monitoring of connected endpoints.Regular updates and strict access controls for external systems.&nbsp;3. RansomwareThis type of attack involves locking down critical systems until a ransom is paid. These attacks are expected to rise significantly in the coming years, especially if adequate security solutions are not implemented.&nbsp;Prevention:Use endpoint detection software.Regular backups and staff education on safe practices.&nbsp;4. Internet of Things (IoT)The growing use of IoT devices in hotels, such as smart locks and climate control systems, increases vulnerabilities. Many IoT devices connect to the network without robust security.&nbsp;Prevention:Ensure IoT devices use secure, unique passwords.Regularly update IoT device software.Encrypt data transmitted by IoT devices. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Final ThoughtsThe cybersecurity landscape for the hospitality industry in 2025 presents significant challenges, but also opportunities for those who are prepared.&nbsp;The evolution of digital threats, especially with the rise of technologies like artificial intelligence and IoT, requires hotels to remain proactive in their defences.&nbsp;As Scott Patterson mentions, 'Before focusing on trends, focus on the basics.' With a solid strategy and a collaborative culture, the hospitality industry can successfully face cybersecurity challenges ahead. &nbsp;That’s why we encourage you to invest time and effort in learning more about the potential threats your property can face, and rely on partners committed to cybersecurity that won’t compromise your hotel, like Hotelbeds.&nbsp;As Paula Felstead points out, 'At HBX Group, we see cybersecurity as a communal obligation. We all owe it not only to our own organisations, but also to every individual and business connected to us. Every transaction made within this ecosystem reflects our duty, and over the past three years, we’ve faced emerging threats head-on by investing significantly in security. With a dedicated cybersecurity team, we’re committed to ensuring that every transaction is handled with care.' Are you interested in experiencing it first hand? Register your property today!&nbsp;Last but not least, we recommend you keep up with the latest travel trends and learn about those that will affect your property in the future. Don’t miss our articles on Wellness Travel, Experiential Travel, or Sustainable Tourism.&nbsp;

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Hotel Cybersecurity in 2025: Why your property can be a target

The festive season is right around the corner, which can only mean one thing: Black Friday is set to return with a bang.&nbsp;As the most significant commercial event of the year approaches, it is crucial to establish your own strategy for the occasion. Whether you need travel marketing tips or assistance in securing the best travel deals for your clients, we are here to support you in making Black Friday 2024 a resounding success.&nbsp;Why do I need to prepare for Black Friday?Of course, you don’t need to do anything – but by not taking any action, you may run the risk of being overshadowed by competitors who recognize the benefits that Black Friday can bring.&nbsp;During 2023, the number of international tourist arrivals worldwide was approximately 1.3 billion. And while this figure was a 33% rise compared to 2022, the levels of international travellers are still below what they were in 2019 pre-covid.&nbsp;&nbsp;This significant number of travellers highlights why events like Black Friday are so important to travel providers! Not only does it signify the sheer demand waiting to be capitalised on, but the remaining growth until we reach the numbers we were seeing pre-pandemic, suggests that offering a great deal might just be one of the best motivators for a hopeful but undecided traveller.&nbsp;This is especially true as travellers continue to become increasingly money-aware, and financially savvy; as Black Friday offers them a key chance to secure bookings for the trips and experiences they may have been bookmarking for later all year.&nbsp;In light of the continuously evolving patterns of traveller and consumer behaviours, as exemplified by the growing overlap between peak seasons and shoulder seasons, the rising popularity of bleisure travel, and shifting preferences regarding duration of stay, it is imperative for you as travel providers to stay well-informed about travellers' needs, and adeptly tailor your offerings to meet their needs.What are the benefits of Black Friday, you ask?&nbsp;Despite the recent inflation concerns worldwide, specifically in European countries, there seems to be a consistent high spending intent for Black Friday and the associated Cyber Week. This presents a valuable opportunity to leverage the demand throughout the sales period, extending beyond just Black Friday.&nbsp;&nbsp;For instance, a study conducted by Sojern in 2022 revealed that travellers in the US and Canada spent more on Cyber Monday and Travel Tuesday, while Europe and South America experienced higher booking rates on Black Friday.&nbsp;Additionally, while there was an increase in demand for trips 90+ days in advance, the demand for the 'instant gratification' of a trip booked with a shorter lead time was equally just as favoured by travellers - so both styles of travel should be accommodated in your travel marketing efforts.&nbsp;Many businesses, regardless of their industry, note a significant increase in traffic to their sites and bookings during this time, and the numbers don't lie: in 2023, retail industries saw a staggering $9.8 billion in online sales — up 7.5% from the year before. But Cyber Monday shoppers blew those numbers away, spending an additional $12.4 billion, which constitutes a 9.6% increase from 2022.&nbsp;The elongation of the Black Friday period to cover, at times, a whole week, may mean that travellers wait until the last moment to finalise their bookings; and implies that timely and market-specific offers have a higher chance of securing a sale, possibly due to a fear of missing out on these special deals.&nbsp;In short, taking part isn’t a necessity, but it’s something you should certainly consider – especially when getting involved can be as simple as following the steps we’ve laid out below!Step one: the best offers + the best destinations = bookings secured! (suggested timeline: around 4 weeks before Black Friday)When it comes to Black Friday, the best place to start is at the end of the process: what is it that your customers are hoping to book with you?&nbsp;An invaluable tool is Insights, our award-winning search and marketing tool. Offering tailored recommendations based on real-time market data, bookings made by the thousands of agents working with us, and historical search data, Insights provides accurate opportunities which help boost your sales.&nbsp;When using Insights, you might notice that some hotels are labelled with discounts. These are ideal options for your Black Friday campaign, so be sure to save them to your favourites for later.&nbsp;&nbsp;Additionally, you’ll be able to search for more discounted room nights by logging into our time-saving Booking Engine!&nbsp;Did you know?: our upcoming Black Friday campaign is set to be bigger and better than ever – so make sure you’ve got a reminder set for November 20th, when our 2024 campaign goes live.&nbsp;Not one of our valuable clients yet? Sign up today to take advantage of our exclusive deals during this high-demand sales period, and capture all those bookings you might otherwise miss out on.Step two: identify your most valuable sales channel (suggested timeframe: 3 weeks before Black Friday)With the high level of competition during this time, it is essential to identify your most valuable sales channel, especially if you operate online. By doing so, you will be in a strong position to attract customers who are seeking the best Black Friday travel deals, whether they choose to purchase through your online platform or physical locations, if applicable.&nbsp;Of course, in today's digital age, it is undeniable that online travel booking offers unparalleled convenience. With the internet providing lightning-fast comparisons and a seemingly endless array of options, it has become a cornerstone of the travel industry. Moreover, the competitive online landscape during events like Black Friday demands a well-executed online travel marketing strategy.&nbsp;&nbsp;As travel providers, it is crucial to not only navigate but also excel in this environment, ensuring that your message rises above the noise and resonates with potential customers. This is especially important when you consider:The customer dynamic has changed: in 2022 and 2023, 'revenge travel' was still popular, driving travellers to spend more on trips to make up for lost time. However, now travellers want authenticity, and trips that feel more bespoke, which may cause them to be more particular in what they spend on.&nbsp;Competition is fierce: with the increasing popularity and demand for experience-based tourism, many more types of trips are being organised and will be on sale in your market. It's important to carefully evaluate what you offer in order to remain competitive.Customers want true value for money: with increasing inflation around the world, travellers might be looking for a truly valuable deal to part ways with their hard-earned cash.&nbsp;While the online space is certainly one of the most important places to be when it comes to Black Friday marketing, the key to succeeding ultimately lies in your ability to cut through the noise regardless of how or where you sell.&nbsp;&nbsp;Discover our tips below to elevate your strategy:If you operate in-store only:It might take a little extra effort to put your best face forward, but there are certainly ways to appeal to customers (whether they exist or are yet to be acquired).&nbsp;Enhance your social media presence by increasing the frequency of your online posts. You can even use Insights' market-specific suggestions to determine the trending destinations in your market and incorporate this knowledge into your engaging social media content.&nbsp;Even if you’re not advertising Black Friday just yet, social media apps such as Facebook and Instagram are great channels for you to showcase your knowledge and build hype about the most exciting destinations. In order to attract the attention of potential customers, it may be beneficial to make some improvements to your store. One idea is to print out visually appealing flyers featuring popular destinations and hotels and display them on your storefront.&nbsp;&nbsp;Top tip: you can create customised flyers using Insights, with the Custom Flyer Tool, for personalized marketing materials in just a few clicks!If you operate online only:Social media plays a crucial role in the success of websites, just like it does for brick-and-mortar businesses. After all, website traffic doesn’t generate itself! Utilise our search and travel marketing tool, Insights, to pinpoint the latest trending destinations and showcase them on your Instagram page.&nbsp;&nbsp;Additionally, if you have a blog, share travel advice and captivating anecdotes to captivate your audience. Lastly, take the time to interact with other users by exploring travel hashtags and participating in conversations centred around popular destinations.&nbsp;Another top tip for increasing your online reach is to secure some glowing reviews. Make sure that you’re set up on Google or Trustpilot (or, at the very least, have a feedback page on your website/are willing to share examples of feedback on your social media pages), then reach out to clients who you know had a fantastic experience of booking with you.&nbsp;&nbsp;Even if their trip was a little while ago, their fond memories might inspire them to re-live the moment and share it with you - as well as with your next potential customer.If you have the best of both worlds:You’re in the best possible position. Consider a blend of our tips above to put your business on the map, just in time for Black Friday!&nbsp;Step three: tease your campaign (suggested timeframe: 2 weeks before Black Friday)Once you’ve determined which channel will earn you your bookings this Black Friday, the next step is to let your customers know that great deals will be theirs to secure very, very soon.&nbsp;Where applicable for your particular business as travel providers, be sure to pick up the phone and start connecting with your leads; by initiating this contact a few weeks prior to Black Friday, you can generate excitement among your clients about the possibility of a trip. Moreover, this approach allows them ample time to set aside funds or contemplate their next destination.&nbsp;Another way to tease Black Friday is – you guessed it – to utilise your social media channels. Take inspiration from companies inside and outside of your industry to see how they’ve advertised Black Friday ahead of time: from deliberately subtle campaigns to an up-front and unavoidable approach, there are numerous ways to inform your followers and potential customers are about upcoming discounts. If you have a website, consider adding a countdown banner to generate excitement and anticipation among your audience.&nbsp;Finally, a solid email marketing strategy will make sure that your customers are primed and ready for the big occasion. Craft subject lines to pique their curiosity and remind them to mark their calendars for the big day.&nbsp;Top tip: why not offer some early Black Friday deals? By browsing&nbsp;the promotions&nbsp;in our Booking Engine, you can cherry-pick hotels on discount in a particular destination.&nbsp;&nbsp;Or, by using Insights, you can identify which destinations are trending and the hotels on offer right now. Make the most of these deals and start driving your Black Friday sales early!&nbsp;Step four: push those offers! (suggested timeframe: Black Friday-Cyber Monday)You’ve already put in the work to market your Black Friday offers ahead of the occasion, but now is not the time to slow down – you still need to secure those sales!&nbsp;During the Black Friday period, it is highly likely that your customers will be entirely money-driven, and seeking the best deals. Whether they have discovered your offerings through your exceptional social media presence, found your website via Google, or are already familiar with your brand and promotions, it is crucial to ensure that these potential bookings are locked down. So, make sure you know your offers inside out – one of the best ways to do this is by exploring the&nbsp;promotions in&nbsp;our Booking Engine to see the most valuable opportunities for your business.&nbsp;Want to gain access to these exclusive offers? Simply sign up today to become one of our clients, and supercharge your sales this Black Friday period.&nbsp;In order to effectively reach clients who may not be aware of Black Friday, it is essential to promptly inform them of your limited-time offers. This can be achieved by prominently featuring banners on your website, or by personally asking clients if they are interested in booking their trip today.&nbsp;By creating a sense of urgency surrounding your Black Friday deals, you can significantly increase sales and drive customer engagement. Thus, it is crucial to establish and enforce these guidelines for your business.&nbsp;Referring once again to online bookings, it is possible that ‘cart abandonment’ will apply to some bookings: this is where a client will browse offers and get as far as the check-out page, before deciding not to proceed with the booking and closing out of the browser. Ensure that you have an email strategy or web pop-up in place to capture this type of client, with a reminder that prices can and do rise quickly – especially over Black Friday – and that the best time to secure a deal is now.&nbsp;Did you know?: According to some statistics, cart abandonment email reminders have an open rate of 45% - a huge percentage of potential travellers you could be tempting back in.&nbsp;Step five: Travel Tuesday is your time to shine (suggested timeframe: the Monday/Tuesday after Black Friday)Fortunately, the fatigue of over-commercialism has not had a major impact on the travel industry when it comes to the Black Friday sales period, given the predictability of the deals and the ubiquitous offerings out there. In fact, statistics indicate that the Tuesday following Black Friday continues to be a significant success for companies that offer discounted rates on accommodations and flights.&nbsp;Known as Travel Tuesday (or ‘Travel Deal Tuesday to some), this event has become a prime time for would-be travellers to secure their dream escape. In fact, past Travel Tuesdays have been known to offer twice the number of deals than advertised over Black Friday and Cyber Monday combined; in fact, last year more airlines, hotel chains, cruise lines, and tour companies offering deals than in previous years. The hashtag #TravelTuesday also received over 100 million views on TikTok!&nbsp;&nbsp;Even if you’re not offering extra or heavier discounts over Travel Tuesday, the number of travellers looking for a deal is likely to increase – so be sure to capture their imagination by sharing the hotels we have on offer between November 20th – 3rd December!&nbsp;Ready to take on this all-important sales period? Log in to your account now&nbsp;to discover our amazing portfolio of hotels and ancillaries, and keep a look out for our upcoming Black Friday offers!Ready to take on this all-important sales period? Sign up now to discover our amazing portfolio of hotels and ancillaries, and keep a look out for our upcoming Black Friday offers!

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How Travel Providers Should Prepare For Black Friday

Black Friday is the biggest shopping event of the year, and it's also a key date for the travel industry. Every year, travellers know they will find great discounts for their future trips. Black Friday offers them an excellent opportunity to secure bookings for trips and experiences they may have postponed throughout the year. &nbsp;&nbsp;And how does Hotelbeds contribute to this? We satisfy this growing demand by offering the best hotels to our wide network of travel distributors.&nbsp;This is where your property comes into play. To boost hotel room sales, we are once again launching our successful Black Friday campaign, one of the most beloved among our hotel partners. &nbsp;&nbsp;Below, we’ll share all the essential details you need to know about the campaign and how you can participate to make the most of this opportunity. &nbsp;&nbsp;Black Friday Campaign at Hotelbeds: Why it’s beneficial for your property &nbsp;To begin with, offering attractive deals during these campaigns is an excellent way to attract guests who tend to stay longer, come from distant markets, and on average, spend more. &nbsp;&nbsp;Participating in our campaigns significantly increases your hotel’s visibility to over 60,000 travel distributors, including travel agencies, tour operators, airlines, banking institutions, and more. &nbsp;&nbsp;How do we do it? &nbsp;We implement a wide range of promotional actions, including mass email campaigns, banner placement on our booking engine, the creation of dedicated landing pages, and promotion on social media, among other initiatives. This way, we reach a global audience eager to benefit from this highly beneficial campaign. &nbsp;&nbsp;Need more reasons to join? Last year, hotels that took part in our Black Friday campaign enjoyed an average 50% increase in bookings compared to non-participating hotels.&nbsp;All the details about Black Friday for hoteliersHere are all the key details to help you join and make the most of Hotelbeds' Black Friday campaign: &nbsp;&nbsp;The booking window for travel distributors will be from 20th November to 3rd December 2024. &nbsp;&nbsp;As for the travel window, customers will be able to travel between 20th November 2024 and 31st July 2025. &nbsp;&nbsp;If your property is already registered with Hotelbeds, you will receive detailed information via email about this and other great campaign opportunities available over the coming months, as well as the steps to follow to participate. &nbsp;&nbsp;If you haven’t registered yet, now is the right time to maximise your partnership with us from the beginning. We recommend joining as soon as possible by completing this brief form. Once completed, we will contact you to guide you through the onboarding process, so you can start distributing your rooms as soon as possible. &nbsp;&nbsp;The Black Friday campaign is one of our key global initiatives, but it’s not the only one. As a Hotelbeds partner, each quarter we will inform you about available global and regional campaigns, as well as the conditions required to participate. On average, hotels that join our campaigns gain a significant competitive advantage over other similar properties in their area that don't participate. It's a fantastic opportunity to stand out! &nbsp;

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Black Friday Campaign for Hoteliers: All You Need to Know 

Having access to our Partner Portal (previously called MaxiRoom) is the first step on your journey to boost bookings and maximise revenue with Hotelbeds. With plenty of features available for your convenience, our platform streamlines your daily operations and management. &nbsp;&nbsp;The Partner Portal has many advantages, from independently managing your inventory and bookings to monitoring connectivity with your channel manager, setting up offers, and accessing your financial information.&nbsp;&nbsp;With the objective of accelerating your learning process so that you get the most out of our platform, we’ve created the Hotel Help Centre. This article will give you a sneak peek into some of the most frequently asked questions about the extranet. Solve your main doubts below, and visit the Help Center to learn more about our advanced extranet and to find quick videos about our platform and information about our products and services.&nbsp;&nbsp;How to update rate plans and availability? &nbsp;Here are some key details to help you understand your Hotelbeds inventory:&nbsp;Remember that every time you create a new room, you must include them in a rate plan in order for them to be distributed. To do this, link each room to any of your rates.&nbsp;&nbsp;How can you update your availability? Go to the ‘Inventory’ section &gt; Click on ‘Edit Availability’ &gt; Make your changes &gt; Save the changes, while making sure to apply them to the correct number of Available Rooms and Release days. &nbsp;&nbsp;How can you update your rates? Go to the ‘Inventory’ section &gt; Click on ‘Edit Prices’ &gt; Make your changes &gt; Save the changes, while making sure to apply them to the correct number of Available Rooms and Release days.&nbsp;&nbsp;How can you create a new rate plan? Go to the ‘Inventory’ section &gt; Click on ‘Rate List’ &gt; Click on ‘Add new rate’ &gt; Fill your new rate details. If you don't see the 'Add new rate' button or want to create a new rate plan type not found on the page, please contact your Contract Manager.&nbsp;&nbsp;These are just a few examples of the main doubts you can find resolved on the ‘Inventory’ section of the Help Centre. Learn more here about how to create new rooms and how to add them to your rate plans, as well as to get a better understanding of our variety of rate plans and room capacities. Also, here you can download this visual guide to get started with the Partner Portal.&nbsp;Do you manage your inventory via a Channel Manager or a Property Management System (PMS)? We have you covered on this too! Visit this page if you work with a Channel Manager, or this one if you do it with a PMS. &nbsp;&nbsp;How to contact Hotelbeds for Partner Portal-related queries? &nbsp; &nbsp;There are several ways to get in touch with our Hotelbeds support team if you can't find the answer to your questions in the Help Centre. &nbsp;&nbsp;For general queries: Send us a ticket via the Hotel Support Form, which you will find in the Partner Portal’s platform. Simply click the icon (person with a headset) on the right side of the menu.&nbsp;&nbsp;For specific queries: Go to the Partner Portal and click on ‘Contact’, located in the footer. This is where you will find the Hotelbeds contact information you need for financial issues, contractual queries, business optimisation, and other general queries and integration issues. &nbsp;&nbsp;Update hotel content in Hotelbeds' Partner PortalYou can seamlessly upload all hotel-related content to the extranet to ensure that it accurately showcases what your property has to offer. Whether you need help uploading high-resolution images or updating hotel information, room details, or hotel services, this section of the Help Centre has the right answers to all your queries. &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;Partner Portal's two-factor authentication: what do you need to know? &nbsp;At Hotelbeds, we take security very seriously, which is why we've proactively implemented security measures to protect your Partner Portal account. The two-factor authentication implementation means that every time you access the Partner Portal, you’ll need to enter a one-time code (OTC), which will be sent via email. &nbsp;&nbsp;This is what you should consider: &nbsp;&nbsp;How long will the code be valid? You’ll have 10 minutes to access the platform once you’ve received the code via email. To generate another one, please log in again to the Partner Portal. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;What to do if the one-time code doesn’t work? Try logging in again to receive a new one-time code. If the code still doesn't work, please ensure that ‘maxiroom@hotelbeds.com’ is whitelisted by adding it to your address book. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;What to do if you haven’t received the one-time code? Make sure that ‘maxiroom@hotelbeds.com’ is whitelisted and not in the spam folder. Also, if you need further assistance, please contact your Contract Manager. &nbsp;Find out more about the two-factor authentication.&nbsp;What payment methods are available at Hotelbeds? &nbsp;VCC PaymentsOne of the payment methods offered by Hotelbeds is Virtual Credit Card (VCC). In order to properly operate with it, this is what you need to know: &nbsp;&nbsp;A VCC will be issued for each booking you receive. To find your card details, visit the Partner Portal’s 'Bookings' section, search for that specific booking, and click on the reference number to see your VCC’s details. From then on, you can introduce it in your Point of Sales Terminal and charge it. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Several factors can cause your VCC to be declined or experience any issues. Make sure to check the VCC activation date, charge the VCC as per the contract currency and charge net amounts. Also, remember that one VCC is created per booking’s total amount (not per room), and your VCC will always be automatically updated in case of booking amount modification. To report further issues, send us a ticket via the Hotel Support Form, as explained previously. &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;Once your booking has been charged and the invoice is set in your system, you’ll need to send us an invoice via email or via e-billing. &nbsp; &nbsp;Ecobill is our electronic invoicing platform, accessible via our Partner Portal. Besides, for the VCC payment method, a valid tax invoice is mandatory in certain countries. Find out more about Hotelbeds invoicing entities, which countries need a valid tax invoice and how to invoice via Ecobill in this section. &nbsp;&nbsp;Wire PaymentsBank transfer is Hotelbeds' second payment method. If you wish to operate this way, this is what you need to know:&nbsp;In order to get paid, you'll need to send your invoice. By default, suppliers should invoice Hotelbeds for each booking right after the check-out date via our electronic invoicing system called e-billing, available on the Supplier Finance Web.&nbsp;&nbsp;If you need to send the invoice via email or post, you can do so by opening a ticket, and our Finance team will provide you with detailed information. &nbsp;&nbsp;Bank transfers are scheduled twice a month. However, the first condition is to upload or send the invoice. &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;To learn more about how to update your bank details, invoice via e-billing and Hotelbeds’ invoicing entities by country, please refer to this section. &nbsp;&nbsp;What campaigns and offers are available to you? &nbsp;Our offers and campaigns contribute to increasing your property's visibility and bookings. As a result of this exposure, you can attract new guests, enhance brand recognition, and boost your hotel's revenue. &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;You can choose from a variety of options:&nbsp;&nbsp;Available offers to create your custom promotion: Last Minute, Opaque, Long Stay, Early Booking and Free Nights are just a few of the available options. Click here to find a detailed explanation of each one, as well as how to set them up. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Monthly promotions: Each month, we release 3 new offers specifically designed to attract guests and increase bookings. You can find these campaigns on your Portal Partner account home page. &nbsp;To join any of these campaigns, simply click on the ‘Join Campaign’ button &gt; Select the dates of stay and booking window &gt; Add it to your rate plans &gt; Define your own conditions and combine them with other offers already loaded.&nbsp;&nbsp;Global and Regional Marketing campaigns: We run several global and regional campaigns throughout the year to connect you with wholesale and retail customers not accessible via traditional B2C channels. Some examples of campaigns include New Year, Black Friday, Early Booking Summer, long-haul campaigns, and other campaigns to promote specific territories, such as China.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Campaigns are published on your Partner Portal home page, and you can join them by clicking on the campaign, setting dates of stay and booking window, and adding it to your rate plan. &nbsp;&nbsp;These are a few common questions we've noticed hoteliers have about the Partner Extranet. We hope we have clarified some of them, and if you have any further questions, don't hesitate to visit our Hotel Help Centre.

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6 Frequently Asked Questions about Hotelbeds Partner Portal 

&nbsp;World Tourism Day is an annual event in the travel calendar that encourages industry stakeholders to reflect on the impact of tourism on the world: socially, culturally, environmentally and economically. &nbsp;&nbsp;Each year, this annual celebration is marked by a specific theme that reflects key tourism trends in the sector, from the impact of COVID-19 in recent years, to 2023's focus on innovative solutions for 'people, planet and prosperity', opportunities to reflect and rethink how we do tourism, to this year's focus on 'tourism and peace'.&nbsp;This year's theme reflects on:"Tourism can play a vital role as a catalyst in promoting peace and understanding between nations and cultures, and in supporting reconciliation processes."&nbsp;World Tourism Day is important for travel providers to be aware of and consider, as it can help to:Learn about industry best practiceFind new business opportunities &nbsp;Raise awareness and knowledge &nbsp;Promote sustainable tourismIdentify travel habits and future trends &nbsp;Improve travel offerings&nbsp;So, can you take this year's theme of 'Tourism and Peace', which is a far-reaching theme, and apply it to your everyday?&nbsp;Promoting Peace and Community Resilience through TourismOften highlighted for its role in economic development, tourism also plays an important role in promoting peace. &nbsp;&nbsp;At a global level, where nations are interconnected and interdependent, tourism, an industry created by and for people, is proving to be a compelling and dynamic force in overcoming stereotypes and challenging prejudices.&nbsp;Did you know? &nbsp;Countries with a more open and sustainable tourism sector tend to be more peaceful.Tourism spreads philanthropy and leads to regional cooperation.Tourism supports post-conflict recovery.&nbsp;&nbsp;Success lies in empowering local communities to actively engage with their rich culture, while minimising conflict with the natural environment and all external forces - such as tourism. &nbsp;&nbsp;Real-world example: The town of Lahaina in West Maui was devastated by one of the worst wildfires in American history. Tourism resumed several months later, which raised new considerations for more mindful travellers. For instance, would their stay in a luxurious hotel displace residents who were temporarily accommodated there following the destruction of their homes?&nbsp;While West Maui accounts for 15% of Hawaii's tourism revenue, many local residents viewed the period of rebuilding Old Lahaina as an opportunity to address issues such as overtourism, environmental degradation, and economic imbalance. In fact, 17,000 residents signed a petition to delay the reopening of tourism in order to focus on the needs of Lahaina's working-class population.&nbsp;Nonetheless, with the projected loss of $9 million in tourism revenue per day since the fire, the Hawaii Tourism Authority enacted the Maui Marketing Recovery Plan to aid in the restoration of travel demand. This incident presented a crucial opportunity for thoughtful, intentional travel. A focus on regenerative tourism that reinvests in people, places, and encourages the 'long-term renewal and flourishing of our social-ecological systems' was paramount.&nbsp;It was essential that the tourism mindset shifted from an individualistic to a collective perspective, for visitors and residents alike, to foster empathy and initiate collaborative action.&nbsp;Many travellers were inspired to add several volunteering experiences onto their itinerary upon seeing business owners' livelihoods burned down, and residents respected most the behaviours of travellers who engaged with patience and understanding while also giving back to the community.&nbsp;How can you as providers encourage this type of travel?Encourage travelers to support local businesses and volunteer – these are key ways to continue that shift towards intentional travel that benefits host destinations.Promote alternative destinations – try sister locations to places that are suffering from severe consequences of overtourism.Promote a mindset for travellers grounded in intention - for example, one that asks 'where can we snorkel that's most respectful' instead of 'where do locals go?'&nbsp;Be aware of the wider industry and world – keeping informed as to any local challenges, initiatives or movements within the destinations that you’re recommending.&nbsp;These measures advocate a proactive approach to ensure that economic growth remains inclusive for the entire community, and that tourism is promoted for the benefit of residents as well as visitors.&nbsp;Top tip: Did you know that in February 2024, the General Assembly officially declared 2027 as the ‘International Year of Sustainable and Resilient Tourism’? The next few years are a prime opportunity to take the travel industry even further when it comes to pioneering sustainable, beneficial initiatives.&nbsp;Engaging with Authentic Voices and Preserving Local HeritageCultural tourism is characterised by visitors' ardent desire to discover, experience, and learn about a particular destination. Whether that entails exploring novel cuisines, residing with remote rural communities, supporting local business owners and artisans, or travelling pilgrimage routes, the interest in cultural immersion is rapidly escalating.&nbsp;Ensuring that travel experiences are firmly grounded in the essence of a place is also in the interest of travel providers from a success standpoint:Cultural and historical travel accounts for 40% of all tourism globally.73% of millennials report being interested in cultural and historic places.Cultural tourists spend 38% more per day and stay 22% longer than other traveller types.&nbsp;Many countries and organisations around the world are already showing how it’s possible to balance economic development with retaining vital cultural heritage, and sustainable transformations. &nbsp;Urban regeneration – a ‘Special Area Plan’ in George Town, Malaysia, balances conservation with economic development, allowing local owners to restore their homes and set up businesses, while protecting historic buildings from tourism-induced redevelopment.Prioritising native industries – to avoid over-reliance on sole economic drivers, like tourism. For example, in AlUla investments are being made into native industries such as agriculture. Diversifying the local economy creates increased revenue for residents and lessens the strain on economies that rely on tourism as a main driver of revenue. &nbsp;‘Living heritage’ – the ‘Beirut Housing Rehabilitation and Cultural Creative Industries’ project offers small grants to local artisans, while the regeneration of the historical Mar Mikhael train station aims to reactivate cultural markets and businesses.&nbsp;A pivotal strategy for providers to incorporate sustainable cultural tourism into their day-to-day operations is to elevate local communities to the forefront of your experience recommendations.&nbsp;Adopting this approach satisfies the prevailing trend for authentic, experiential tourism in a manner that generates longer-lasting positive impact for the host community and economy, while also maintaining business engagement with customer preferences.&nbsp;By actively engaging with local communities, the tourism industry can ensure that the generated revenue remains within the community, where it can yield the most substantial impact.&nbsp;Promoting Travel that Champions SustainabilityIn 2015, the Member States of the United Nations collectively adopted the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which endeavor to 'enhance health and education, diminish inequality, and stimulate economic development – all while addressing the challenges of climate change and working to preserve our oceans and forests.'&nbsp;The tourism industry presents a multitude of opportunities to impact and contribute to the realisation of these goals: through the provision of high-quality tourism training, which invests in education and skills development; by investing in sustainable infrastructure; by working to further the eco-conscious transformations in communities, economies and mindsets, including initiatives to decarbonise the sector; and by investing in innovative travel technology and upskilling tourism's workforces globally.&nbsp;Sustainable tourism is a major focus for the travel industry, with the appetite for sustainability showing no sign of easing: 83% of global travellers believe that sustainable travel is important.&nbsp;For the environment - &nbsp;One of the paramount concerns, not solely for the travel and tourism industry, but for the broader global context of sustainability, is the prevelance of single-use plastics. The hotel industry alone is responsible for the generation of 150 million tonnes of plastic per year – a significant proportion of which ultimately ends up polluting the world's oceans.&nbsp;In light of this, marine and coastal conservation programmes serve as an ideal example of how to promote experiences that cater to customer requirements while adhering to sustainable practices.&nbsp;Real-life example: Based in Cap Ternay research station on Mahé Island - which can be accessed via the Seychelles International Airport for overseas visitors, located near the capital of Victoria – GVI offers several volunteer and study projects where participants can spend their time scuba-diving to help underwater research, snorkelling to collect data on marine life, or even hiking through palm forests. &nbsp;&nbsp;Experiences like these are the perfect example of how agents can promote sustainable travel which not only aligns with the needs and desires of the customer, but that also benefits the host destination.&nbsp;How Hotelbeds HelpsWe’ve looked before at how important is to offer single-use plastic-free options for travellers (as just one example of sustainable tourism) and how this can and should become part of every travel agent’s strategy.&nbsp;But one way we’re making it easier for travel providers to offer sustainable tourism is by offering sustainable experiences in our Booking Engine. Including PADI-approved diving centres for those eco-conscious marine adventures, as well as thousands of other in-destination activities and experiences that offer tangible benefit to both traveller and host.&nbsp;Plus, our ‘Sustainable Hotels’ filter in our Booking Engine makes it simple to refine your searches to hotels that hold sustainability at the forefront of their operations.&nbsp;In fact, hotels are only shown in this filter once they have achieved industry-certified sustainability levels such as the Hotel Sustainability Basics certificate by the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) and the GSTC Industry Criteria offered by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC).&nbsp;Sign up today to discover our sustainable hotels and expand your portfolio for the travel options so important to today’s traveller.&nbsp;For local communities - &nbsp;Overtourism represents a distinct tourism-induced challenge that numerous renowned destinations across the globe confront.&nbsp;Initiatives such as the sustainable tourism tax, introduced in the Balearic Island of Mallorca, assist in supporting the conservation of this esteemed destination. Additionally, Kyoto, Japan, has implemented several measures to mitigate the strain of overtourism, including addressing traffic congestion and utilising social media to disseminate alternative routes and information for visitors.&nbsp;To work alongside these internal initiatives implemented by local governing bodies, it's vital that you fulfill your role as an provider to endorse destinations in a sustainable manner. After all, as the expert, you are the one placing travel prospects directly into the hands of travellers.&nbsp;Tip: discover thousands of eco-conscious in-destination experiences with our Booking Engine, encompassing conservation opportunities, regenerative experiences, tours and experiences facilitated by local guides, and a plethora of additional options.&nbsp;Furthermore, our global portfolio equips providers with comprehensive sustainable options as result of our status as a full-service provider, including green transfers and car hire, as well as single-use plastic-free and sustainable hotels.&nbsp;Tourism Helps Create Meaningful Connections&nbsp;This sector can be perceived as the epitome of intercultural dialogue; it allows meeting the "other" through learning about different cultures, hearing foreign languages, discovering new cuisines, creating bonds with other people, overcoming cultural differences through sharing experiences, and building tolerance.&nbsp;&nbsp;Travel, in its quintessential form, is an endeavor to expand one's perspectives. Extensive research has even suggested that 'tourist affiliation with nature and connection with local people' are 'critical determinants of positive psychological outcomes'; that travel fundamentally enhances well-being.&nbsp;This, undoubtedly, aligns with the third Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) previously mentioned: to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all individuals, irrespective of age.&nbsp;We see the connection between travel, identity and wellness in:Travellers seeking out experiences that align with their personal values, backgrounds or heritage.Travel that actively strengthens bonds with cultures or communities around the world.88% of younger travellers saying that travel has impacted their personal growth.72% of Gen Z travellers remarketing that travel is core to their identity, and how they express themselves.&nbsp;Social belonging is defined as an essential human requirement, a 'fundamental human pursuit' - and tourism plays a vital role in generating prospects for interpersonal connection.&nbsp;Moreover, this sense of social cohesion is also apparent in the industry-wide transition towards experience-based tourism, where authenticity and genuine connection has become paramount for tourists' overall experiences.&nbsp;There is substantial merit in the positive impact for travellers and their companions, including reinforcing connections amongst friends, loved ones, creating more meaningful experiences and memories, as well as increasing the probability of revisiting a destination.&nbsp;There is also, a great deal to be explored about the benefits of more connected social relationships between travellers and host communities:‘Immersion in the local community and socialisation with local people generate learning opportunities for tourists to know different cultures and virtues, which leads to self-reflection and potentially causes personal transformation.’&nbsp;Real-world example: The experiences of 26 international tourists to Fiji were examined in a recent study, to determine the connection between tourism and psychological wellbeing.&nbsp;Fiji has high levels of tourism, thanks to pristine natural environments and cultural diversity, and derives a great deal of revenue from tourism as a result: 34% of Fiji’s GDP was contributed to tourism, and around 150,000 residents are directly employed in the tourism sector. &nbsp;&nbsp;Travellers’ responses were categorised into themes, including ‘gaze’ (how tourists view the people and destinations they interact with and visit), ‘practice’ (a subjective, expressive encounter) and ‘reflection’ (post-trip learnings, related to personal transformation).&nbsp;&nbsp;And from increased sense of enjoyment when experiences where shared, a deeper sense of cultural understanding through authentic encounters with local communities and more chances for ‘shared memory’, results showed that travel can be a vehicle that increases social connectedness, personal development and transformation, and improved mental health.&nbsp;Not only this, but interacting with landscapes and residents who have been relocated due to climate change, or impacted by natural disasters, invokes a sense of awe that is directed not internally, but externally.&nbsp;&nbsp;These connections ‘evokes an ‘environmentally responsible consciousness’ in visitors, redirecting ‘personal concerns’ towards ‘more collective dimensions of personal identity’. These are significant factors in wellbeing, and support the notion that travel creates meaningful connections for people across the world.&nbsp;What are the key takeaways?Travel providers (and destination boards) ought to incorporate group travel into their tourism offerings – for more effective and numerous changes to offer chances for travellers to build connection with their companions during their trip.Accessible facilities are an essential requirement for children and elderly visitors – to promote collective participation in tourism activities and an enhanced sense of connection.Destination loyalty and revisit intentions experience an increase when visitors feel socially connected.Enhancing tourists' connection with nature, their companions and local communities will result in long-term advantages for providers, local economies and travellers themselves.&nbsp;Our Impact &nbsp;As part of HBX Group, it’s our ongoing mission to demonstrate through action how much value we place on industry-recognised travel standards, and our own environmental, social and governmental (ESG) commitments. &nbsp;&nbsp;Following the development of a new reporting framework, we’re able to anticipate future regulations, and achieve higher certification, which means that we can work even harder to make travel a force for good.7,889 volunteer hours completed - contributed by 1015 employees.€7612 raised – for global social causes.444.58kg waste collected from forest and beach cleanings.12,000 trees planted – that’s 9.04 hectares of developing forest.Carbon neutral in scope 1 and 2 – it's our 6th anniversary of this accreditation.Think Big Project – we launched this initiative to help create sustainable micro destinations, to empower local communities in rural areas.40,000 sustainable hotels – including 5000 single-use plastic-free accommodation options as part of our Sustainable Hotels Programme.We’ve become a UN Global Compact member.Hybrid vehicles – offered in even more global cities.Thousands of cultural tours, nature tourism and wildlife-centred activities – available in our Booking Engine, to encourage deeper connection with the environments and habitats of the world.Safari, reforestation, sanctuary and eco-conscious experiences – available for our clients to book.Purposeful Pause – space for employees to discuss important topics, such as financial wellbeing.Health Month – promoting employee wellbeing via yoga sessions, meditation and more.&nbsp;For a closer look at our parent company’s dedication to making ourselves and the world of travel a better place, you can download the HBX Group ESG report for 2023 here.&nbsp;

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world tourism day 2024 travel as a catalyst for understanding

Travel as a Catalyst for Understanding: World Tourism Day

&nbsp;Why are cybersecurity issues so prevalent in the travel sector?&nbsp;&nbsp;The tourism industry holds hugely valuable and sensitive data on every traveller, and it is crucial for travel agencies and providers to recognise that cybercriminals are constantly developing advanced techniques to access and steal this information from booking websites, internal systems, servers, and mobile platforms.&nbsp;The rise of online travel booking has created new opportunities for cybercriminals. With the increasing digitalisation of booking processes and the sharing of personal data online, the risk of security threats has also grown. Mobile travel apps, which are widely used by online travel agencies, have become prime targets for threat actors.&nbsp;In the following sections of this article, we will delve into the valuable insights shared by industry leaders such as MasterCard and Citibank regarding the advantages and security measures provided by virtual credit card tools, which were highlighted during our at the MarketHub Europe in June, hosted by our parent company HBX Group.&nbsp;&nbsp;However, let's first examine the potential risks involved in managing, creating, and processing online transactions, the implications for travel providers like yourself, and the role that Hotelbeds plays in this landscape.&nbsp;Security and the Travel Sector: RisksDuring recent industry-leading MarketHub events hosted by our parent company HBX Group, cybersecurity was a key topic of discussion. Attendees had the privilege of hearing from cybersecurity specialists during these events.&nbsp;One of the reasons why cybersecurity risks are so prevalent nowadays, is that a whole ecosystem has developed – forget the eras of ‘one-man hackers’, cybercrime has become ‘CAAS’, cybercrime as a service. &nbsp;&nbsp;There is a lot of money to be made from cybercrime, and as Christo Butcher, global lead for threat intelligence at NCC Group and Fox-IT, mentioned at our MarketHub Europe event, the travel sector is a low-hanging fruit in the eyes of many cybercriminals. &nbsp;&nbsp;"It's a highly dynamic sector with multiple stakeholders involved and constantly evolving interactions," Christo pointed out. Social Engineering, as a prevalent method of cybercrime discussed in our article on top cybersecurity threats, is particularly prevalent within the hospitality industry.&nbsp;Social Engineering plays off the nature of the sector, taking advantage of the customer service mindset to manipulate a situation to the benefit of the cybercriminals and at the cost of whichever hospitality business is in their sights.&nbsp;So, what can be done, especially when it comes to digital bookings? &nbsp;&nbsp;Data Regulation ComplianceData regulation gives more control over personally identifiable information and aims to simplify the ‘regulatory environments’ for international businesses dealing with this sensitive data.&nbsp;UK and EU businesses must operate in compliance with General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), while the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) is the US equivalent, and the Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA) applies to businesses and data subjects – people – in Asia. &nbsp;&nbsp;Travel marketers must pay close attention to data handling compliance when executing marketing campaigns and sending enticing offers to customers for bookings. This involves the careful processing, storing, and utilisation of customer databases to ensure everything is handled according to regulations and best practices.&nbsp;Incorporating the core principles and rules of global data protection regulations into your business is critical! These principles include: data minimisation, purpose limitation, storage limitation, accuracy, integrity, and security. Make sure to search for your countries’ relevant data protection regulation to see the most up-to-date rules.&nbsp;Sticking to the strict rules laid down by worldwide data protection regulations helps to:Ensure data accuracyProtects data against unauthorised accessEmpowers people to exercise their rights over their own dataHow is this linked to travel booking?Utilising any form of online booking software encompasses a range of activities falling under the broad scope of 'processing'. This includes collecting, recording, storing, using, and disclosing data through various means such as transmission. From basic contact information to sensitive payment details and personal preferences, every piece of data gathered by travel agencies is subject to stringent data protection regulations.&nbsp;As travel bookers, it’s vital that you’re processing, storing and using data lawfully and transparently.&nbsp;Using online booking systems that adhere to these strict rules not only means that you’re meeting global requirements as a travel provider, and therefore a handler of data, but also ensures the privacy and security of your customers’ data.&nbsp;Using Safe Providers and Booking PlatformsThe use of booking software goes hand in hand with travel providers – even in brick-and-mortar travel provider businesses the booking is completed using an online booking platform. &nbsp;&nbsp;The majority of websites use SSL encryption to protect any data that’s transmitted between a website and a shopper.&nbsp;HTTPS website security is crucial for building guest trust and securing online transactions. &nbsp;&nbsp;Those in the hospitality and tourism industry must take proactive steps, including appointing a compliance champion, educating staff, controlling data access, and collaborating with PCI-compliant vendors, to adhere to these standards and protect against data breaches and hefty fines.&nbsp;Surveys say 84% of users would abandon a purchase if data was sent over an insecure connection, and a large majority are concerned about their data being intercepted or misused online. &nbsp;&nbsp;So, what are the risks involved with online booking platforms, and how can we ensure that bookings made using travel booking software are secure?&nbsp;Christo Butcher, our insightful guest speaker at MarketHub Europe, also spoke about this.&nbsp;Interestingly, though there is potential to hack the booking platform itself, Christo suggested that its ‘much more interesting to focus on the weaker links in the chain: the users.’ In an example where you have users who can log into a booking platform, this account is ‘probably much easier to hack than the platform itself’, and once this is compromised, the hacker effectively becomes the hotelier, or provider, with ‘direct access to all guests and travellers via legitimate communication channels.’&nbsp;This situation provides hackers with an ideal chance to engage with actual end users in a seemingly authentic manner, serving as a significant force amplifier in the cybercrime domain. By hacking a single account, the potential for profitable scalability is enormous.&nbsp;How can this risk be mitigated? Multi-factor authentication.&nbsp;Managing the risk involved in stolen or hacked passwords is key! MFA (multi-factor authentication, sometimes also called two-factor authentication, helps reduce the chances of stolen credentials.&nbsp;Another key risk is third party security, especially when it comes to travel providers such as Online Travel Agents (OTAs). The issue here, for OTAs, is that income pivots around products which are provided and sold by different suppliers, like airlines, hotels, car rental companies, or travel insurance, just as an example. The combination of this dynamic and changing collection of suppliers, along with the ‘inoperability’ between these businesses – for OTAs – opens a prime environment for hackers.&nbsp;Implement Security Standards for PaymentsThe Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) is a crucial industry standard mandated by major credit card companies. It plays a vital role in ensuring the secure processing, storage, and transmission of credit card information. This standard directly impacts every single credit card transaction, emphasising the importance of compliance and adherence to these rules.&nbsp;Should a guest use their credit card to pay for something at a hotel, for example – be it a room reservation, spa treatment or coffee – or a traveller use their credit card to secure a booking with you, PCI DSS applies to that purchase.&nbsp;When it comes to digital booking, the most important factor is that you’re selecting an online travel booking platform that is fully PCI DSS compliant – like the Hotelbeds Booking Engine.&nbsp;But for day-to-day practices that will also ensure that you’re storing and handling data correctly, here’s a few pointers: &nbsp;Name an owner or champion of PCI DSS compliance within your organisation.Be proactive: teach staff why data security is important and the impact any breach may have. &nbsp;Protect physical data.Restrict access to payment or personal data to only staff who require this information to do their job. Use individual logins and access codes to systems.Clarify the role vendors play in terms of compliance with data-related standards, and seek PCI DSS compliant partners.Secure online booking data: While you may need a paper copy of a reservation, do not print credit card details of customers from your online systems.&nbsp;Virtual Cards – MarketHub InsightsIn today's travel and tourism industry, it is crucial for businesses to cater to travellers for whom the payment method plays a significant role in their decision-making process. As pointed out by Ana Arjones of Mastercard during our recent MarketHub Europe event hosted by our parent company HBX Group, if the preferred payment method of a customer is not available on a hotel's website, 1 in 4 travellers will choose to take their business elsewhere.&nbsp;In answer to this challenge, virtual credit cards (VCC) are a tokenised version of the physical payment formats used by millions of people, companies and organisations worldwide. &nbsp;&nbsp;In a booking related environment, many travel providers have API connections to banks, and anytime a booking is created, a one-time VCC, specific to that booking is created.&nbsp;The virtual card is specifically coded for a designated supplier, amount, and in certain cases for travel or hotel bookings, the associated check-in and check-out dates. This ensures that the virtual card cannot be used for unauthorised transactions, even with the same supplier. After the payment is made, the virtual account number is deactivated and cannot be reused. This method of payment not only enhances security but also minimises the risk of fraudulent activity. &nbsp;&nbsp;Ana Arjones stated that ‘fraud rates on virtual cards are virtually zero’, much lower than the 0.3% rate on regular consumer cards. Which seems like a small figure, but 0.3% of a large volume is a significant number.&nbsp;This is incredibly important when you consider that sales made by travel providers on behalf of hotels is a significant industry, with ‘leisure sales made by travel intermediaries valued at around $500 billion,’ as Ana Arjones again suggested. &nbsp;&nbsp;Virtual Credit Cards and HotelbedsVirtual credit cards are widely supported and used by many travel product suppliers we partner with at Hotelbeds.&nbsp;Much of our supplier finance management processes hinges on the secure processing of virtual credit card transactions, with an E-Billing system specifically designed for VCC suppliers and the effective, safe management of all VCC payments and transactions. &nbsp;&nbsp;This means that when you’re confirming a booking using the Hotelbeds Booking Engine, there are layers of security and encryption involved when your customers’ data and payments are being transferred from their bank accounts to the travel product provider.&nbsp;Discover more about the benefits of partnering with Hotelbeds today.&nbsp;

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Cybersecurity: Staying Safe in a Digital Booking Landscape as Travel Providers

In recent years, the service and marketing industries have shifted their focus from accommodating Millennials as the 'future generation' to now integrating Gen Z and Gen Alpha. Born from the late 1990s to early 2010s, Gen Z and the children of Millennials, known as Gen Alpha, are already making significant impacts and are considered the true 'travellers of the future'.&nbsp;The industry is set on capturing the attention – and spending power – of these up-and-coming demographics of jetsetters, which makes sense given that Gen Z have risen to represent around one third of the global population.&nbsp;A recent study by the European Travel Commission revealed that younger travellers are more likely to: &nbsp;Return to, and add more value to, destinations over timeDiscover and actively seek out new, less-’popular’ travel destinationsIncorporate technology into the planning of, and during, their tripsSeek personal cultural experiences, benefits, and contribute to local communities in-destination&nbsp;It should be noted that Gen Z is currently one of the highest spending demographics in the travel sector. Despite not being individually wealthy, their collective spending power heavily contributes to their travel experiences. This generation's strong alignment between their values and consumer behaviors further solidifies their influence in the market. &nbsp;&nbsp;Let’s take a look at how the ‘travellers of the future’ are changing the landscape of travel and tourism.&nbsp;The impact of younger generations on travel trendsDid you know that Gen Z alone constitutes a spending power of around global spending power of $143 billion (a figure that is only increasing) and accounts for about 40% of all consumers? Or that Millennials and Gen Z consumers will make up 45% of luxury sales by 2025?&nbsp;Digital-native travellersThe upbringing of Gen Z and Gen A in a digital era has resulted in their development during crucial formative years, constantly exposed to evolving and easily accessible technologies.&nbsp;In terms of seeking out assistance from a travel provider, rather than doing things themselves, the likelihood of Gen Z doing so is influenced by various factors. However, among them all, Gen Z tends to prioritize technology integration, easy booking procedures, social environments that encourage connections with fellow guests, interactive communication with service providers, and personalized experiences.&nbsp;In light of Gen Z's ability to meet their own needs through their technological proficiency, it is crucial for travel providers to find ways to engage with this constantly connected generation, such as through Online Travel Agencies (OTAs).&nbsp;How to attract and accommodate ‘digital-native’ travellers:Highlight the benefits of using an agency over an OTA – &nbsp;in your content, your communications or ads, your website, everywhere.Personalise all communications to the right audience, at the right time. Gen Z want individual experiences; use this to your benefit as a provider who can offer that.Ensure your approach is ‘mobile-first’ - whether it’s marketing or fighting for a spot on the top results in a search engine, what’s important to know is that 80% of Gen Z travellers use smartphones to research and book their travel. Compete with OTAs and be seen.Create engaging online content – you can’t book travel for customers who can’t find your services. Not only do you need to be seen, but younger travellers need to be convinced of why they should use an agency over an OTA. Convenience is everything – but personalisation is a huge motivator for this audience.Embrace technology and digital experiences – incorporate and promote tech-based recommendations, from hotels that offer AI powered air-con and mobile check-in to using a travel booking platform that has flexible payments – like our Booking Engine!&nbsp;&nbsp;Travel influencersGen Z spends an average of 10.6 hours per day online, making them the most digitally connected generation, and in 2023, around 29% of Gen Zers were inspired to travel to a destination by TikTok. Meanwhile, around 54% of parents say their Gen Alpha child spends up to four hours a day on social media.&nbsp;Many members of Generation Z and Millennials, more than their Gen X counterparts, find travel inspiration predominantly through online platforms. Social media, with its use of hashtags, geotags, and content sharing, provides a convenient way for users to discover and explore various destinations, attractions, and experiences worldwide. Travel businesses and influencers play vital roles in showcasing these destinations through engaging content, essentially serving as virtual tour guides for their audiences.&nbsp;A recent study discovered that approximately 75% of travelers in the UK, US, Australia, China, and Japan utilize social media for travel inspiration. Leading the pack are platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and Pinterest. Interestingly, 48% of travelers end up visiting destinations they stumble upon or are intrigued by on social media. &nbsp;&nbsp;Notably, during their searches, many users actively seek out new destinations, hidden gems, and unique travel experiences.&nbsp;Research indicates that the largest source of inspiration for young travelers is television, news outlets, or movies at 64%, followed closely by recommendations from friends and family at 47%. These findings highlight the significant impact of social media on the preferences of the younger generation of travelers, surpassing even the influence of personal recommendations.Build a positive online social presence to capture Gen Z travellersAnd considering the prevalence and importance of social media in their travel-making decisions, it’s fair to say that Gen Z – and even Millennials - are travel influencers too. &nbsp;&nbsp;It is important to note that for every interaction your Gen Z customers have with your customer service, booking, pre-and post-travel experiences, they are highly likely to share their feedback online, whether positive or negative. Therefore, social media plays a crucial role in the success or failure of travel companies.&nbsp;What does your online presence say about you as a travel provider?Are you creating engaging content? Is it the right content for your audience?How do travellers know what value you provide, compared to OTAs? &nbsp;Are you paying attention to what previous and existing customers say about you or your business?&nbsp;&nbsp;What do travellers want? Experiential TourismA large proportion of Millennial travellers seek culturally immersive, experiential travel – a chance to ‘get under the skin’ of their destination and create personally fulfilling experiences. &nbsp;&nbsp;Generation Z is known for seeking unique experiences, and as the first digitally native generation, their travel preferences reflect a technology-first approach from the start of trip planning all the way to sharing experiences during and after their travels. &nbsp;&nbsp;Most of all, both demographics are proven (find stats) to want and prioritise: &nbsp;Experiential travel – with a focus on authenticity in-destination.Wellness experiences – from holistic therapies to silent travel, wellness is driven by what wellness means to individual travellers, resulting in demands for bespoke experiences.Cultural and destination immersion &nbsp;Niche travel – such as agri-tourism, eco-travel, halal travel, adventure travel and more.&nbsp;The Gen Z demographic is increasingly showing a preference for authenticity in destination experiences. This shift towards experiential travel reflects a desire for bespoke, tailor-made travel experiences rather than the traditional 'one-size-fits-all' approach. Building on the cultural immersion focus of Millennials, Gen Z is leading the way in seeking experiences that align with their values. The trend is towards personalized, unique travel experiences that cater to the individual preferences of this generation.&nbsp;From ‘set-jetting’ travel to luxury culinary tourism, solo travel and wellness tourism, such as ‘silent travel’, there’s no denying the fact that as well as being motivated by a desire for self-discovery, cultural immersion, and localised experiences, Gen Z are just as inspired by ‘on-screen’ destinations, social media and a keen social and environmental awareness.&nbsp;In order to appeal to this future-focused generation of travelers, it is important to stay up-to-date on popular culture knowledge and have environmentally friendly recommendations readily available.&nbsp;See our top 2024 travel trends here!&nbsp;&nbsp;Sustainable Travel for the futureAs evidenced by recent data, sustainable travel is a top priority for Millennials and Generation Z travelers. 82% of Millennials have expressed a strong desire for travel options that are environmentally friendly.&nbsp;Promote sustainable travel options – from hotels that are certified as sustainable (you’ll find these in our Booking Engine – to tours that have reduced their single-use plastic waste.Practice what you preach – many travel companies have signed the Glasgow Declaration on Climate Action in Tourism as signatories, or seek sustainability certification as part of the Sustainable Travel Agencies Certification. &nbsp;Adopt sustainable practices in your day-to-day – a key example would be to use digital travel brochures.Support local causes – recommend locally owned restaurants, tours and own voices from a portfolio of trustworthy and sustainable travel products – like our Booking Engine!Invest in ‘regenerative’ schemes – much like our adjoining company Hotelbeds is dedicated to planting tens of thousands of trees in the Hotelbeds Forest!&nbsp;Conscious travel is top of the demands list for many younger travellers, from sustainable travel practices and experiences that benefit local communities, to voluntourism and regenerative travel, alongside their undercurrent of desire for unique experiences.Discover more about overtourism, and the importance of promoting sustainable tourism here.&nbsp;The impact on Gen Alpha on modern familial travelThe growing utilization of travel technology and enhancements in travel accessibility across various demographics worldwide have created new opportunities for younger generations to travel more easily and affordably. This shift is transforming the expectations of younger travelers as travel becomes more convenient and economical, especially in regions with advanced travel infrastructures.&nbsp;Given this, Gen A is expected to be the most mobile traveller yet.&nbsp;This not only affects the future travel patterns of Generation A, but also their current impact on modern family travel. In fact, approximately 43% of families with Generation A children are influenced or inspired by them when planning a trip.&nbsp;Although the older generations still play a key role in decision-making due to their ability to book trips, Gen A is actively sharing travel-related content on social media and indirectly influencing family travel decisions. Use this insight to provide experience-led recommendations to families with Gen A children.&nbsp;A high number of families are prioritising inter-generational experiences and the needs of the family over the destination itself. Tech-inspired holidays are ideal for family and intergenerational travel as these experiences are engaging, accessible, sustainable, and memorable. Immersive experiential travel is fun for the whole family no matter the season.&nbsp;&nbsp;While this is by no means an exhaustive list or overview of the impact of younger generations on travel, travel trends, and even wider traveller behaviour, it's certainly food for thought when you're considering how to attract, appeal and retain these all important travellers of the future. &nbsp;&nbsp;

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Travel Trends 2024: The Travellers of the Future

In the hotel industry, upselling is a strategic approach aimed at promoting upgrades on bookings or reservations. This entails encouraging guests to spend more on additional amenities and services at any point throughout the guest journey, encompassing pre-arrival, stay and post-stay phases.&nbsp;&nbsp;It’s well-known that these upselling techniques can significantly help hotels increase profits. But it’s also essential to have in mind the best practices and avoid potential pitfalls.&nbsp;&nbsp;In this article, we delve into the benefits of upselling for hotels, what to upsell in hotels, key guest types to consider, and examples of upselling tactics for hoteliers.&nbsp;Keep reading to discover more about our recommendations.&nbsp;Benefits of Upselling in Hotels: Why Is It Relevant for Your Property?&nbsp;In essence, by investing effort into applying these techniques within your daily operations, you’ll reap multiple rewards. Here are our top reasons why you should tap into them.&nbsp;&nbsp;Enhanced Understanding of GuestsEvery interaction with your clients starts with a dialogue, and each attempt to upsell pushes you to listen to your customer’s voice. Understanding your audience improves their experience and facilitates customer retention.&nbsp;Increased Customer’s SatisfactionUpselling serves as a great way for you to showcase your services and product range, offering more options to your customers. They might not be aware of upgrading options, or simply might have had other needs coming up since they made their booking.&nbsp;Boosted RevenueEffective upselling can give you extra revenue streams. Opting for the right distribution partner, such as Hotelbeds, can grant you access to international guests that are more likely to upgrade their booking as they tend to spend more in a destination.&nbsp;&nbsp;Hotel Upselling Ideas: Where You Should Put The Focus&nbsp;When you start implementing this technique, it’s very usual to get very creative and offer an extensive array of amenities or services for your upselling purposes.&nbsp;&nbsp;However, prior to delving into the upselling possibilities, it’s important to acknowledge that you should avoid giving guests too many options that end up overwhelming them.&nbsp;&nbsp;Our recommendation here is that you start by presenting classic options, such as breakfast, early check-in and late check-out. And then add a few deals tailored to that specific segments. A selection of 10–15 options would be ideal.&nbsp;&nbsp;Once said this, let’s see some of the most popular options for your upselling purposes.&nbsp;&nbsp;Room upgrades &amp; Rooms with special featuresBigger rooms, suites, or accommodations with panoramic views, terraces, saunas or kitchens.Stay extensions: Encourage guests to stay longer with discounts for a one- or two-night extension. This will help you sell additional rooms during off-peak seasons.&nbsp;Pet feesDry cleaning servicesSpecial occasion packages&nbsp;Baby beds&nbsp;Food and beveragesStrawberries and champagneWine bottlesPremium minibar selections&nbsp;Activities &amp; TransportSpa treatmentsIn-room massageDog walking servicesParking facilitiesBicycle rentalsOff-property excursionsAirport shuttle services&nbsp;Check-in and check-outEarly check-in: Guests arriving earlier than check-in time may be caught by surprise by your hotel and their rooms might not be ready. It would be a great opportunity for you to provide a room upgrade to a suite or simply a larger room as an alternative solution.&nbsp;Late checkout: This is important in order to facilitate the logistics of late departures, such as evening or late afternoon flights.&nbsp;Guest Categories to Consider In Your Upselling StrategiesFirst and foremost, it’s vital to know which segments of guests you’re attracting. This will give you insights on which type of amenities and services can be useful for each of these travellers. Some of the main guest categories to have in mind are as follows:&nbsp;Families with children: Consider offering connecting rooms and fun activities. This segment appreciates flexibility. Also, provide meal packages and family-friendly activities.&nbsp;&nbsp;Couples: They may be willing to upgrade their experience with larger, more comfortable rooms, panoramic views, and other features that can enhance their stay.Romantic packages like couple’s massages, candlelight dinners, or a spa experiences are likely to be of interest.&nbsp;&nbsp;Business travellers: This segment has a great potential for upselling strategies as these guests are often less price-sensitive, and are looking to improve and smoothen their stay.Some interesting upsells for business travellers would be early check-in or airport transfer, flexible departure times, express laundry, parking... Ensure that they are comfortable and that they perceive your property as one that is convenient and provides prompt service.&nbsp;Digital nomads: Some high-valued offerings include well-equipped in-room workstations, a coworking space or a chance to upgrade to high-speed Wi-Fi. Discover further initiatives to cater for remote workers here.&nbsp;Solo female travellers: Given the rise in solo female travellers, consider offering secure transfer options with trusted providers, as well as other options that we explore in this article on solo female travel. &nbsp;&nbsp;5 Upselling Techniques for Hotels That Deliver ResultsNow that we have defined what services and products are a fit for upselling&nbsp;– and how to cater to some of the most lucrative guest types –, it’s time to deep dive into some of the most common techniques to drive upselling success.&nbsp;Start selling before your guest arrival: This is one of the best moments to upsell because the traveller is eager to buy extra/complementary services.&nbsp;You can send customised emails or WhatsApp messages with offers 2–3 days before arrival. For instance, consider sending a brochure with relevant information about the hotel, and include a section with add-ons to their primary booking, such as airport transfer, early check-in or room category upgrade.&nbsp;&nbsp;Partner with local businesses: Collaborate with local companies to provide tailored and enriching experiences. Offerings like private walking tours, boat trips, wine tastings and spa packages can enhance guest experiences.&nbsp;Check what popular activities are held close to your property, and reach these local businesses in order to establish a collaboration. A good example would be partnering with local wine farms to create a complete wine experience package for a minimum stay of two nights.&nbsp;Another great idea is to reach out to festivals or sporting events’ organisers. As you can read in these comprehensive articles on film tourism and sporting events tourism, there are plenty of appealing activities and proposals for your guests.&nbsp;Keep a look into data: To better understand which amenities and services were most popular in the past, it's imperative to collect this information. It will enable you to identify the trends of your property, and you may be able to prioritise some offers over others to increase your chances of selling.&nbsp;Focus on training your staff for front-desk upselling: Ensure all hotel staff are aligned, and know how and when to upsell.&nbsp;Train them to gauge guest moods and how to ask open questions to gather relevant information.The check-in might not be the best moment to try to upsell your products, as guests often arrive tired and want a smooth check-in process, without having to hear your offers. Instead, it’s better if you have sent your list of offers a couple of days before their arrival so that they can have a look at it and decide if there’s something appealing to them.&nbsp;&nbsp;Present every upsell opportunity as an option: Pushing hard doesn’t always work, that’s why it’s crucial to showcase upgrade offers as choices. Customers can get annoyed by aggressive upselling techniques. Focus on offering solutions rather than increasing your profits.In addition, when offering a new deal, only mention the incremental price, not the full price. E.g: Instead of saying ‘For £260 a night you could upgrade to our Seaview Suite with a Continental breakfast included,’ say ‘Would you like to upgrade to our Seaview Suite and add our Continental breakfast? It’s available for an extra £35 per night.’And always try to reaffirm the primary purchase and then offer the upselling. For example, say that the room chosen is wonderful, but that they can have the superior one for a small add-on.&nbsp;&nbsp;By embracing these techniques, hotels can elevate guest experience while boosting their revenue. As mentioned, it’s essential to start by understanding your customers’ needs in order to cater to them with your best offerings.&nbsp;&nbsp;Remember that Hotelbeds offer access to high-value customers more likely to purchase add-ons. We expand your hotel’s visibility among international travellers, who usually have a larger budget and seek to enjoy their holidays fully.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Join our network of 60,000+ B2B travel distributors today. Register your property for free and boost your visibility and occupancy rates! Already part of Hotelbeds? Log in to continue leveraging our campaigns and maximising your revenue.&nbsp;&nbsp;Lastly, don’t forget to download our free guide on how different channel distribution strategies can enhance your hotel’s performance. Click below and get it now!

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Upselling Techniques for Hotels to Boost Revenue in 2024

2023 is proving to be a great year for tourism, with several travel trends coming to the forefront.&nbsp;&nbsp;In our recent posts, we recommended catering to solo female travellers, as well as incorporating AI tech in the travel sector. Now, it's time to focus on another major travel trend that has gained popularity over the past few years.&nbsp;Film tourism, also known as screen tourism or set-jetting, refers to the phenomenon of people choosing holiday destinations based on locations seen in films or TV shows.&nbsp;&nbsp;As a hotelier, it's essential to understand this increasing trend, considering the abundance of films and TV shows filmed and broadcasted every year.&nbsp;Learn more about film tourism, how it benefits the travel sector, the main destinations for tourists, and how you can make the most of it. Keep reading!&nbsp;A Major Trend: Understanding Film TourismWith countless destinations to choose from, it’s vital to make your property’s location stand out from the competition. One way to achieve this is to leverage it with the help of TV shows and films.&nbsp;TV shows and films can significantly raise the profile of the city or country where the story is set. This exposure can extend beyond the specific location, benefiting regions, hotels, theme parks, and other attractions associated with the show or film.&nbsp;&nbsp;Tourists often seek to identify with their idols, favourite scenes, or visit the exact spots where the cast filmed. Screen tourism offers a unique opportunity to experience the emotions and sensations lived while watching a film or TV show, making it a fantastic way to connect with the history and culture of a place, which is what happened with the popular TV show Outlander and Scotland.&nbsp;&nbsp;The rise of streaming platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime, HBO and Disney+ has made audiovisual content even more widely available to a global audience, contributing to the popularity of screen tourism. Locations featured in films can motivate tourists to visit these spots, transforming them into popular destinations.&nbsp;Benefits of Film Tourism for HoteliersFilm tourism serves as a powerful destination marketing tool. Visual content plays a crucial role in increasing visibility in front of millions of potential travellers.&nbsp;&nbsp;The great amount of content available through streaming platforms has led to a significant increase in people visiting places they've previously seen on screen.&nbsp;As a hotelier, capitalising on film tourism is a good strategy to achieve:&nbsp;Increased occupancy: Hotels in areas featured in popular films or TV programmes receive a higher influx of visitors eager to stay close to filming locations.&nbsp;Higher room rates: The popularity of a location due to film tourism can justify an increase in room rates, especially during peak seasons or when film-related events take place, such as the Cannes Film Festival (France), or the Oscars (Los Angeles, USA).&nbsp;Repeat business: Enthusiastic fans often return for multiple visits, or even recommend the accommodation to fellow fans, creating a loyal customer base. &nbsp;&nbsp;Year-round interest: Screen&nbsp;tourism tends to be evergreen, attracting fans throughout the year and maintaining a consistent stream of guests, even during off-peak seasons.&nbsp;Increased revenue from ancillary services: Tourists engaged in film tourism often spend on additional services, such as guided tours, merchandise, and themed events. Hotels can tap into these revenue streams by offering tailored packages and experiences. At the same time, you can benefit from partnerships with local tour operators, film and production companies. This can also help expand the hotel’s visibility.&nbsp;&nbsp;Enhanced reputation and unique selling point (USP): A strong connection to screen tourism sets hotels apart from competitors and elevates their reputation when associated with popular films or TV shows. A hotel can end up being recognised as a unique destination, like what happened with The Stanley Hotel from The Shining. &nbsp;&nbsp;8 Films And TV Shows That Have Boosted TourismOverall, New Zealand, the US, the UK, Spain, France, India, Japan and Iceland are some of the most popular destinations for film tourism. Have a look at which films and TV shows have contributed to the growth of tourists.&nbsp;&nbsp;Game of Thrones &amp; House of the DragonBoth TV shows are great examples of significant contributions to tourism in recent years.&nbsp;Their influence was huge, and many places benefited from it. A clear example can be found in Dubrovnik (Croatia), which is the real-life location of King’s Landing, frequently seen in the show. Another good example can be sunny Spain, which hosted many sets, such as&nbsp;Girona (Catalonia) or San Juan de Gaztelugatxe (Basque Country).&nbsp;Iceland also received a great influx of visitors. For example, bookings to this country increased by 166% in 2019 when the last season premiered.&nbsp;Bridgerton &amp; Queen CharlotteAs one of the most successful Netflix productions, the Bridgerton series has significantly boosted tourism in the UK – mostly in Bath and London.&nbsp;The popularity of the show has been so great that even the Tourist Board of Great Britain has published a dedicated article on its website to promote the Bridgerton filming locations.&nbsp;&nbsp;The Lord of the Rings &amp; The HobbitThis is one of the best examples of screen tourism directly influencing a country’s tourism.&nbsp;Despite the first of the films being released more than two decades ago, New Zealand keeps attracting screen tourism, making this an ‘evergreen’ source of income for the country. As a curiosity, these tourists (known as&nbsp;‘Tolkien tourists’)&nbsp;have a long-term impact that brings millions of dollars to New Zealand’s economy each year.&nbsp;Harry Potter filmsThey're another great example of how a country can take the opportunity to capitalise on a film series.&nbsp;Not only have the locations increased their visitor numbers exponentially – Alnwick Castle,&nbsp;home to Hogwarts, receives more than 800,000 visitors every year –, but they have also inspired dedicated theme parks like the ‘Studio Tour London’.&nbsp;On average, the filming locations experienced a 50% growth in tourism after their release.&nbsp;&nbsp;BraveheartFinally, we have this clear example of film tourism impact, which took the&nbsp;Wallace Monument in Scotland&nbsp;from 80,000 visitors per year to 180,000 after the film’s release.&nbsp;&nbsp;Tips for Hoteliers to Capitalise on Screen Tourism&nbsp;Regardless of the size of your property, there are various ways to take advantage of the increasing screen tourism trend. It’s all about creativity and thinking about how you can make the most of it!&nbsp;Contact and collaborate with film productions: Keep track of upcoming film or TV show productions in your area by getting in touch with the local film commission.Film commissions are public organisations that promote a specific destination as a filming location for audiovisual productions and promote film tourism. Many cities – &nbsp;and countries – have theirs, and they highly contribute to pitch their locations to be part of a film or TV show.Try to collaborate with the production teams and offer your property as a potential filming location, or provide accommodation for crew members. If you get to do it, you’ll gain fame, and you can even turn your hotel into another touristic destination in the future.&nbsp;&nbsp;Contact Tourism Boards: Discover actions already implemented to promote film tourism in your area, and actively promote any filming locations near your property.&nbsp;For example, in Barcelona there’s the ‘Barcelona Movie Walks’ website with all the tours available related to famous films and TV shows filmed in the city.In Italy, many Tourism Boards promote screen tourism through their online channels, such as their blogs. You can reach them and ask to be mentioned in their articles.&nbsp;&nbsp;Leverage social media: Share content related to film tourism on your hotel's social media platforms, engaging with your followers and being part of the conversation.&nbsp;Include, for example, behind-the-scenes facts about productions filmed in your area. It’s essential to communicate it through your social channels, so that you let people know what happened here and increase their interest in visiting the place.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Offer themed rooms and packages: If a well-known film or TV series was filmed near your property, consider offering themed rooms and packages inspired by the production. You can decorate the rooms with props or posters related to the productions.As for the packages, you can include guided tours to nearby filming locations. An example could be the Studio London Tour - The Making of Harry Potter.&nbsp;&nbsp;Offer Guided Tours: If your property is close to multiple filming locations, consider offering guided tours exclusively for your guests to enhance their screen tourism experience.&nbsp;Celebrate film festivals: Actively participate in film festivals hosted in your city and promote your hotel's association with the film industry. Offer special discounts or packages during these events to attract attendees. Organise private transport to the venue for your guests and enhance their stay.&nbsp;Certainly, as screen tourism continues to shape the new tourism industry, it's essential to stay updated on the latest trends and cater to the needs of today's travellers.&nbsp;If you're already part of our extensive B2B network, don't forget to log in and take advantage of our continuous campaigns to maximise your revenue.&nbsp;If you're not yet part of Hotelbeds, join the world's largest network of 60,000+ B2B travel distributors today. Register your property for free and boost your visibility and occupancy rate!

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Film Tourism as a Destination Marketing Tool: Tips for Your Hotel

&nbsp;The trend towards booking travel through a comprehensive travel provider is growing, as travelers seek authentic experiences. This increasing demand highlights the need for the expertise and connected services that travel providers can offer.&nbsp;For travel providers, staying abreast of consumer behaviour changes, receiving real-time recommendations based on historical data, and capitalising on growth opportunities is essential for staying ahead of competitors, regardless of where travellers are in their journey with you.&nbsp;Not only does this enhance the services you're able to provide to travellers, but these key 'insights' allow you to remain relevant and valuable in the fast-paced travel industry, certainly when it comes to the needs of the end traveller.&nbsp;Are you maximising this opportunity, or still spending countless hours conducting research and making searches in order to close deals, all while staying informed about the latest industry developments?&nbsp;Do you have access to exclusive global connections in key destinations all in one place?&nbsp;You get all this, and much, much more, with Insights.&nbsp;Let's explore how.&nbsp;What Is Insights?Powered by intelligent algorithms and marketing technology, Insights is a search and recommendation platform for travel agents with unbeatable personalised recommendations&nbsp;and customisable marketing materials available at the touch of a button.&nbsp;Insights is equipped with intuitive features aimed at enhancing your travel marketing efforts, addressing present and future travel trends, and maximising your achievements. With our platform, you can effortlessly provide top-notch travel experiences, leading to increased bookings and loyal customers over time.&nbsp;Plus, as more travellers entrust their travel plans to interconnected travel providers, and with other providers at every level racing to fulfil this demand, having a leg up on the competition is essential.&nbsp;So, what does Insights actually offer?&nbsp;Trend Forecasting with Real-Time Global DataYou’ll never miss out on a destination trend again with Insights.&nbsp;&nbsp;Using in-market global data and real-time insights, it allows you to keep track of, and capitalise on, destination trends that are most relevant to your source market.&nbsp;Insights is powered by:•&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;Historic travel search data•&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;Real-time market data•&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;An awareness of seasonality•&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Historic booking and itinerary dataAll this ensures that our information is valuable, relevant, and influenced by real bookings, to offer you opportunities that closely match the current and upcoming preferences of your market.&nbsp;By enhancing the quality of the products you offer your customers, you also increase your value as a travel provider. This positions you as the top source for the most sought-after destinations and comprehensive travel recommendations tailored to their needs.&nbsp;&nbsp;As a result, you gain a competitive edge and improve the chances of customers choosing your services repeatedly in the future.&nbsp;A Tool That Learns From YouWhat makes Insights even better? It’s intuitive, driven by technology that actively learns from your behaviour when using the tool.&nbsp;Why? Because you can’t offer bespoke experiences to travellers without a tool that provides a personal experience for you, as their trusted travel provider.&nbsp;When you access Insights, you will see Destination&nbsp;cards, which are recommendations based on their opportunity value. These are the destinations that offer the best growth for you based on your current market, customer booking behaviours and competitor activity.&nbsp;So, once you know your most valuable destination opportunities, how you interact with them tailors your further recommendations.•&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Anchor a destination to keep it at the top of your recommendation list regardless of its ranking.•&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Save it for later to remove a destination for a period of time, and create a reminder for it.•&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Discard a destination to tell Insights you’re not interested.You can anticipate receiving data on demand fluctuations, price decreases in your market, new additions to the hotel industry, and the most popular month to book suggested destinations. Rest assured that all recommendations will be customised to suit your specific needs and operational style.&nbsp;Get started today! Sign up today to access Insights, or log into your Hotelbeds account.&nbsp;Filter Options To Better Cater To CustomersA key question that arises as a traveler provider, is: how can you guarantee that you are providing your customers with the most sought-after destinations, all while accommodating the increasing demand for travel in a manner that is both meaningful and personalised?&nbsp;With Insights, of course.&nbsp;&nbsp;You get access to a portfolio of globally sourced, exclusive destinations and hotels, but they are presented in an intuitive way with comprehensive filter options so you can quickly refine your searches based on customer preferences.&nbsp;You can cater to a wide range of factors, such as: international or domestic locations, destination theme, traveller type, regions, star ratings and more.&nbsp;&nbsp;By utilising this tool, you can simplify the booking process and provide customised travel options right from the start. Insights is consistently updated, with clear week-on-week trends visible, allowing you to optimise booking rates effectively.&nbsp;In-Platform Personalised Marketing&nbsp;It goes without saying that the consultation stage before your customer books is one of the most critical, and how you communicate with your customer is vital.&nbsp;So, the ability to create personalised marketing materials in Insights is a pivotal benefit to travel agents.&nbsp;After identifying the most appealing destinations and hotels for your customer through the filter options, the next step is to utilise the Custom Flyer tool to present the top choices. Further customisation can be done by refining these selections based on star rating, traveller type, and TripAdvisor rating for a more tailored experience.&nbsp;What’s more, you can personalise all marketing materials with your own branding, removing the costly and time-consuming process of creating marketing content from scratch – a huge benefit for independent or home-based agents in particular.&nbsp;99% of marketers recommend that personalisation helps to "advance customer relationships" and has an "extremely strong" impact on whether that customer books or not. With feedback like that, it's clear that forming relationships on a personal level is critical.&nbsp;Cross-sell With Experiences&nbsp;Enhancing your customers’ trips and earning more has never been easier with Insights.&nbsp;&nbsp;With the ‘Experiences’ tab, you’re able to review popular experiences in each destination you’re researching, ranked by the opportunity value for you, with key information about the experience, which you can use to excite and incentivise your clients!&nbsp;By utilising the interactive features available, you can manage these experiences just like you would your recommended destinations. Whether you choose to anchor, save for later, or discard the displayed options, Insights will consistently recommend the most valuable choices for both you and your clients.&nbsp;&nbsp;Embracing cross-selling can significantly increase your earnings per consultation, making this integrated feature your greatest asset while utilising Insights.&nbsp;&nbsp;So why not try out Insights for yourself, and sign up today, or access Insights by logging in to your Hotelbeds account.&nbsp;

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A Quick Guide To Insights for Travel Providers

Overtourism is when a destination receives too many visitors. According to McKinsey, 80% of travellers visit just 10% of the world’s tourist destinations. Such imbalanced numbers cause infrastructure problems, harm natural and cultural sites, and frustrate locals.&nbsp;A small town in Austria, Hallstatt is an example of a destination experiencing overtourism. Despite its population of 800, the town receives around 10,000 visitors per day in peak season. This caused the town’s locals to protest against overtourism, while holding signs saying “tourism yes, mass tourism no.”&nbsp;Similarly, around 250,000 people live in Venice, yet, the Italian city accommodates 20 million tourists per year. In 2024, Venice introduced a €5 fee for visitors who would like to access the city centre between 8:30am and 4pm during peak travel season. The main reason behind it was to reduce the congestion in the city, especially due to day-trippers who are exempt from the overnight tourist tax.&nbsp;Like Venice, other popular destinations implemented regulations in 2023 and 2024. Athens capped Acropolis visitors at 20,000 per day. Bali implemented a tourist tax of IDR 150,000 (around €9). And Amsterdam banned the construction of new hotels, to name a few.&nbsp;What are the risks of overtourism?&nbsp;Overtourism poses risks to destinations and locals, while changing the travel experience for tourists and the booking experience for travel agents.&nbsp;Here is what happens:For destinations&nbsp;In 2023, the Canary Islands welcomed 14.1 million foreign visitors, which locals found unsustainable given the islands’ limited resources and increasing prices. In a 2024 protest in Tenerife, a local said their rent was €800 while they earned a salary of €900. Another activist complained about short-term booking websites, saying they increased housing prices for locals, who now have to sleep in cars and caves.&nbsp;Besides increasing the prices for locals, overtourism may also damage the monuments and wildlife. The 20,000 visitor per day cap in Acropolis was put in for this exact reason, as the authorities wanted to protect the UNESCO World Heritage site.&nbsp;For the environmentIn 2023, Peru announced it would suspend visits to Machu Picchu as overtourism caused erosion on some stone structures. Millions of people visit the ancient citadel every year, which is not sustainable in the long run. Later that year, Peru reopened Machu Picchu, but put visitor caps to protect it.&nbsp;The influx of too many tourists also means more pollution. Although Italy’s tourism industry was hard hit during the 2020 coronavirus lockdown, locals in Venice reported cleaner waters and better air quality, as there were no visitors.For travellersWhen travellers stand in long queues, experience visitor caps, and pay tourist taxes, they may get frustrated with the destination. This also reduces the authenticity of the travel experience, which is increasingly important for tourists. In a recent report, 47% of survey respondents said they’d like to connect with locals in less-travelled areas, and 56% said they wanted to explore off the beaten path.&nbsp;&nbsp;For travel providersDestinations suffering from overtourism may disappoint your clients because of long queues and crowds. This can lead to negative reviews and dissatisfaction, damaging your reputation.&nbsp;In the eyes of some clients, recommending over-crowded destinations during peak season may appear inconsiderate, given the rise of sustainable tourism. According to recent studies, 43% of travellers feel guilty when they make less sustainable travel choices. Nearly half of survey respondents also believe travel service providers are responsible for addressing environmental factors, which include sustainable travel options.&nbsp;Want to know more about how we as a travel ecosystem player can take your business further?&nbsp;&nbsp;Read more about how to offer comprehensive travel services with Hotelbeds here.&nbsp;Why should travel providers consider overtourism when promoting destinations?Did you know that 44% of travellers have said they were interested in visiting less-touristy spots? As the Vayable CEO Jamie Wong said, “People want to reclaim what’s real. Mass tourism is no longer sufficient.”&nbsp;Experiential travel is on the rise. Travellers are looking for experiences rather than just visiting hotspots. American Express’ Global Travel Trends Report found that 77% of travellers prioritise having the right travel experience over the cost of the trip. And for travel agents, it’s more difficult to hit the right spot with over-crowded destinations. With more off-the-beaten-path destinations, local activities, authentic experiences, and sustainable choices are more likely to happen.&nbsp;Tourism accounts for 8% of carbon emissions globally, and is set to recover from the pandemic. In Q1 2024, international travel reached 97% of pre-pandemic levels. Given that most people visit the same tourist destinations, the environment is at risk. To help clients make more responsible travel choices, educate them on the risks of overtourism.&nbsp;For example, Thailand’s Maya Bay, featured in Leonardo DiCaprio’s 2000 film The Beach, used to receive thousands of tourist boats every day. In 2018, it closed to tourists as the boats destroyed the area’s coral reefs. When it shut down, only 8% of its coral reefs were alive. The conservation efforts started paying off over the years, and in 2023, biologists reported that the coral reef population grew to 20-30%. Marine biologists estimate that it will take another 20 years for the coral reefs to become the way they were 50 years ago.&nbsp;These examples aren’t meant to put people off from travelling. Instead, they are meant to promote less-touristy beaches, eco-friendly hotels, and ethical tours that make tourism beneficial for everyone.How can travel providers find alternative destinations to better accommodate sustainable tourism?Work with HotelbedsTravel providers can use tools and analytics to learn more about emerging destinations that are gaining popularity but are not yet overcrowded.&nbsp;&nbsp;For example, our Hotelbeds Booking Engine lets you discover hotels, vacation rentals, transfers, tickets, and experiences. Our expansive portfolio provides options from over 170 countries around the world, making it possible to book holidays in alternative destinations.&nbsp;With Hotelbeds, you’ll also get access to Insights, a search and recommendation tool. It gives personalised recommendations on trending destinations, the most popular activities, and alternatives depending on your clients’ needs. This empowers travel providers with bespoke recommendations, improved growth opportunities and a way to keep an eye on the competition.&nbsp;Plus, Insights highlights the destinations that offer the best growth opportunity for travel providers in your specific market, which provides a framework of consideration for your destination marketing strategy; including where you want to subvert these typical expectations within your audience, and offer closely-mirrored alternatives to delight, surprise and cater for travellers looking for hidden gems.&nbsp;We have an expansive portfolio, within our Booking Engine, of 200,000+ hotels, 18,000 experiences for all sorts of travellers and destinations — including the lesser-known ones. Not only this, but you'll join a connected network of 66,000 travel distributors, all benefiting from our end to end services as a ecosystem player in the travel industry.&nbsp;Understand Traveller NeedsFor travel providers liaising directly with the end customers, or with channels of communication that reaches this audience, it's worth thinking about what recommendations will speak to travellers in different regions, countries, demographics and your bespoke targeting segments.&nbsp;Ask yourself these questions:What type of experience are they looking for? - Are they looking for a vibrant culinary travel or ecotourism experience? Or are they in the mood for a city-scape?Where have they enjoyed staying before - and are they looking for something similar?What were they unsatisfied with in their last destination? - Understanding any unsatsifactory aspects of their trip, and how overtourism may have played into this, will help you provide a more satsifactory recommendation&nbsp;When formulating a destination marketing strategy, consider promoting alternative destinations to those firm favourites, for a better experience for travellers, and increased booking opportunities. Gone are the days when travellers were happy to settle for a superficial look at their destination of choice, 2024's travel trends (and beyond) suggest that today's (and tomorrow's) traveller wants to get under the skin of wherever they go, to understand the culture, the environment, and the people there.&nbsp;Instead of the usual Paris city center stay for a romantic getaway, why not consider suggesting Reims? Situated in the renowned Champagne region of Paris and just a short day-trip away from the city, this charming town provides a romantic ambiance featuring breathtaking Champagne houses and Gothic architecture.&nbsp;For urban enthusiasts who have been eyeing vibrant metropolises such as Tokyo, Hong Kong, or Seoul, Taipei stands out as a compelling alternative in Asia. The city boasts a rich cultural heritage, bustling night markets, and breathtaking scenic spots like Beitou and Maokong.&nbsp;For travelers looking for an adventurous yet sustainable experience, Costa Rica's cloud forests offer a life-changing and eco-friendly option. With three protected nature reserves - Monteverde, Santa Elena, and Bosque Eterno de los Niños - that showcase a wide variety of wildlife, extensive hiking trails, and rich biodiversity, this destination is a wonderful place to explore Costa Rica's ecosystems while supporting their sustainable initiatives.&nbsp;By booking these alternative destinations, you’re more likely to offer authentic experiences and sustainable options, away from the crowds of destinations experiencing overtourism. Everyone benefits from the experience — you offer an unforgettable travel experience, travellers have an amazing trip, less densely visited areas get an economic boost, and the popular destinations experience a reduction in the strain caused by mass tourism.&nbsp;Sign up today or log in to your Hotelbeds account to get the latest offers and stay up-to-date with travel trends.&nbsp;

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hotelbeds overtourism sustainable travel tips

2024 Travel Trends: 'Overtourism: The Importance of Promoting Sustainable Tourism'

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